Sanitary connector for spray stick



Oct. 15, 1968 D. R. HOLDREN SANITARY CONNECTOR FOR SPRAY STICK Filed Oct. 24, 1965 HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent T 3,405,958 SANITARY CONNECTOR FOR SPRAY STICK Donald R. Holdren, West Liberty, Ohio, assignor to Holdren Brothers, Incorporated, West Liberty, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,482 3 Claims. (Cl. 285-162) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sanitary connector having resilient fingers depending from one side thereof and adapted to be inserted into a neck-type opening in a tank to be cleaned. The fingers spring outwardly away from the center of the opening after being inserted therethrough and detachably hold the connector to said tank by engaging the inside of the tank at said opening.

This invention relates to a connector for detachably connecting a cylindrical element to another object, such as a tank, and is particularly concerned with a sanitary connector which is especially adaptable for detachably securing a cleansing spray stick to a tank, such as a milk storage tank, which requires thorough and effective cleaning.

In order to clean a tank after use, the spray stick is inserted into the interior of the tank, and cleansing solution is forced through the pipe and the spray nozzle. The nozzle is provided with a plurality of holes which are arranged to direct the spray of cleansing solution to most of the interior of the tank. The cleansing solution is then collected at the bottom of the tank and directed to a pump which recirculates the cleansing solution to the nozzle, from which it is again sprayed. The spray stick is supported in an aperture in the top of the tank by a sanitary connector during the cleaning operation.

One of the problems of the prior-art sanitary connectors is that they do not adequately seal the opening in the tank through which the spray stick is inserted, and, as a result, much of the cleansing solution is lost, resulting in improper or ineffective cleaning of the tank. Another problem with the prior-art connectors is that they do not adequately support the spray stick while permitting the area adjacent to the hole in the tank to be effectively cleaned.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a sanitary connector which is especially effective for detachably supporting a spray stick or nozzle in a tank to be cleaned.

Another object is to provide an economical sanitary connector for use with a spray stick, which connector. is effective in minimizing the loss of cleaning fluid therethrough while effectively supporting the spray stick on the tank being cleaned.

Another object is to provide an economical sanitary connector for detachably securing a spray stick in a hole in a tank being cleaned while permitting the area adjacent to the hole to be as eliectively cleaned as the balance of the interior of the tank.

These and other objects and advantages will be further explained in the following description and drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section,

3,405,958 Patented Oct. 15, 1968 showing a tank being cleaned by a spray stick which is inserted into the tankand supported by the sanitary connector of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one modification of the sanitary connector of this invention shown in position on the tank for supporting the spray stick;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the bottom of the sanitary connector shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of one part of a modified form of the sanitary connector of this invention;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of a sleeve member used in conjunction with the modification shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of another modifioation of the invention showing a sleeve member which is adjustably positioned in the outer cylindrical member; and

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of a tool used in preparing the opening of the tank for receiving the sanitary connector of this invention.

FIGURE 1 shows a typical storage-tank 10 and the equipment used in cleaning it. The equipment includes a spray stick 12, which is inserted through :an opening 14 in the top of the tank 10. The spray stick 12 is detachably supported in the opening 14 by the sanitary connector of this invention, which is generally designated 16.

The lower end of the spray stick 12 is provided with a spray nozzle 18, which is perforated to direct a spray 20 of cleansin fluid to the interior of the tank, as shown. The spray nozzle 18 may be of the type shown in the United States patent to Donald R. Holdren, No. 3,104,672, which issued on September 24, 1963.

The cleansing liquid collects in the bottom of the tank and passes out through a drain valve 22 and a conduit 24 to the pump 26. The cleansing fluid, under pressure from the pump 26, is then recirculated by a conduit 28 to the top of the spray stick 12, where a known connector 30 is used to connect the conduit 28 to the spray stick 12. The cleansing fluid is recirculated in this manner until the interior of the tank 10 is cleaned.

FIGURE 2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the sanitary connector 16 in position on the tank 10. The tank 10 is provided with a neck portion 32 terminating in an annular rim 34 around the opening 14 in the top of the tank.

The sanitary connector shown in FIGURE 2 comprises an outer cylindrical member 36, which has an opening 38 therein to receive the hollow spray stick 12, through which the cleansing fluid passes. The cylindrical member 36 is also provided with a cylindrical recess 40, which is concentric with the opening 38, and a sleeve member, generally designated 42, is positioned in the recess 40 as shown.

The lower end of the sleeve member 42 shown in FIG- URE 2 is provided with a plurality of identically-shaped fingers 44, which are equally and circumferentially spaced along the perimeter of the sleeve member 42, as shown in FIGURE 3. The fingers 44 are shaped as shown in FIGURE 2 to provide edges 46, which are arcuately shaped and which engage the neck portion 32 :along the inside of the tank 10, as shown. The plane formed by the edges 46 is parallel to the annular rim 34. There is a clearance between the fingers and the neck portion 32 to permit thorough cleansing of this area.

The sleeve member 42 and the cylindrical member 36 may be made of stainless steel; however, they are preferably molded of nylon or a similar plastic, as there is less scoring of the neck portion 32 of the metal tank 10 when the fingers 44 are made of nylon. The sleeve member 42 is provided with a hole 48, which is concentric to the opening 38, and the sleeve member 42 is adhesively secured in the recess 40 as shown. The spray stick 12 is inserted through the holes 38 and 48, which are sufficiently small to provide a substantially fluid-tight seal between the spray stick 12 and the sanitary connector 16. The spray stick 12 is detachably secured to the connector 16 by a set screw 50.

When the connector 16 is positioned on the tank 10, the longitudinal axis of the concentric holes 38 and 48 is perpendicular to the annular rim 34, which is ground flat, and the lower side of the cylindrical member abuts thereagainst to provide a substantially fluid-tight seal therebetween.

The spray stick 12 is adjusted in the connector 16 for the depth at which the nozzle 18 will be located below the annular rim 34 and is fixed to the connector by the set screw 50. The nozzle 18 and the stick 12 are then inserted through the opening 14, and the connector 16 is forced downwardly into the opening. Chamfered edges 52 are provided on the fingers 44 to facilitate entry into the hole 14. As the fingers 44 are pushed downwardly, as shown in FIGURE 2, they are pushed towards the longitudinal axis of the spray stick 12. After passing through the opening 14, they resiliently move outwardly of the longitudinal axis to engage the neck portion 32 and hold the annular surface 54 of the cylindrical member 36 on the annular rim 34 to provide a substantially fluid-tight connection therebetween. When the sanitary connector 16 is used on vacuum-type storage tanks, the sleeve member 42 may be provided with an annular groove 56, into which an O-ring 58 is positioned, as shown in FIGURE 2. To remove the spray stick 12 and the sanitary connector 16 from the tank, it is simply pulled upwardly out of the opening 14.

FIGURES 4 and show a modified form of the sanitary connector which comprises a cylindrical member 60 and a tubular sleeve 62. The cylindrical member 60 is internally threaded at 64 to threadedly receive the sleeve 62, Which is provided with threads 66. Holes 68 and 70 are provided in the cylindrical member 60 and the sleeve 62, respectively, to receive the spray stick 12, as previously explained, and a screw 72 is used to secure the spray stick 12 therein. In this modification, the sleeve 62 is axially adjustable in the cylindrical member 60, so as to provide some adjustment as to where the edges 46 of the fiingers 44 engage the interior of the tank at the neck portion 32. The threads 64 and 66 may be tightfitting, so as to provide sufiicient friction to retain the sleeve 62 in the adjusted position in the cylindrical member 60, or they may be adhesively secured together when adjusted.

FIGURE 6 shows another modification, generally desi nated 74, of the sanitary connector of this invention. In this modification, the cylindrical member 76 is internally threaded at 78 to receive the external threads 80 on a sleeve 82, which has fingers 44 depending from its lower side, as previously explained. In this modification, a hex lock nut 84 is used to lock the sleeve 82 in the adjusted position in the cylindrical member 76. Suitable flat areas 86 may be provided on the cylindrical member 76 to facilitate the locking operation, and a suitable screw 88 is used to secure the sanitary connector 74 and the spray stick 12 together when the stick 12 is inserted into the hole 89.

FIGURE 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the forming tool used in finish-forming the neck portion 32 of the tank, to which the sanitary connector of this invention is detachably secured. After a hole is made in the top of the tank 10, an abrasive cone is used to chamfer the edge of the hole. A suitable fianging tool is then used to generally form the neck portion 32. After the neck portion 32 is generally formed, the top portion is faced with an abrasive tool to provide a flat surface. The forming tool 90, shown in FIGURE 7, is then used to finishform the neck portion 32.

The tool 90 consists of circular die members 92 and 94, which are brought together with a bolt 96 and an elongated hex nut 98, as shown, to form the neck portion 32 to conform to the die member 92. This forming action provides an accurate curvature against which the edges 46 of the fingers 44 may seat to retain the connector 16 on the tank 10, and it also eliminates bulging around the opening 14. The tool 90 also consists of a tubular member 100, which slips over the nut 98, and the member 100 is secured to a handle 102. It is important that the spray stick 12 be vertically mounted on the tank 10, so a suitable level (not shown) may be positioned on top of the nut 98, and the handle 102 may be tilted until level readings ninety degrees apart are obtained. When level readings are obtained, the annular rim 34 will be level, and consequently the spray stick 12 will be vertically mounted on the tank 10 when it is secured thereto by the sanitary connector 16. The vertical mounting of the spray stick 12 insures a minimum loss of cleansing fluid and proper retention on the tank 10.

While the embodiments shown herein constitute the preferred forms, it is understood that other forms may be adopted falling within the scope of the following claims.

I claim the following:

1. A sanitary connector in combination with a liquid storage tank and a tubular conduit having a spray nozzle thereon, said tank having a projecting annular neck portion terminating in a rim and defining an opening into said tank, said tubular conduit and spray nozzle insertable into said tank through said opening, said connector slidably mounted on said tubular conduit for positioning said tubular conduit in said opening, said connector comprising an elongated tubular housing member encircling said conduit with the upper portion thereof engaging said conduit and the lower surface thereof engaging said rim, said housing member having a concentric enlarged recess formed therein, a sleeve member positioned within said recess of said housing member, a plurality of resilient fingers depending from said sleeve member, said resilient fingers extending through said opening and engaging said neck portion to retain said tubular member in engagement with said rim and means extending through said housing member and said sleeve member for securing said tubular conduit thereto.

2. A sanitary connector in combination with a liquid storage tank and a tubular conduit having a spray nozzle thereon as set forth in claim 1 wherein said resilient fingers are each formed with an arcuately shaped edge portion for engaging said neck portion.

3. A sanitary connector in combination with a liquid storage tank and a tubular conduit having a spray nozzle thereon, said tank having a projecting annular neck portion terminating in a rim and defining an opening into said tank, said tubular conduit and spray nozzle insertable into said tank through said opening, said connector slidably mounted on said tubular conduit for positioning said tubular conduit in said opening, said connector comprising an elongated tubular housing member and a sleeve member, said housing member being bored to receive said tubular conduit and counterbored to receive said sleeve member, the lower surface of said tubular housing member engaging said rim, a plurality of resilient fingers depending from said sleeve member, said resilient fingers extending through said opening and engaging said neck portion to retain said tubular member in engagement with said rim and means extending through said housing member for securing said tubular conduit thereto and thread 6 means on said tubular housing and said sleve member 3,076,668 2/1963 Famely 285159 for adjustably securing one to the other. 3,104,672 9/1963 Holdren 134-168 3,134,519 5/1964 Tidd 295-158 X References Cited 3,243,206 3/ 1966 Samer 285162 UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 6/1902 Fellows 285- 195 X 735,069 8/1955 Great Britain.

11/1938 Baxter 285-158 10/1948 Cole 285 159 CARL W. TOMLIN, Przmary Exammer. 10/1958 Schlosser et al. 285-194 X 10 R. G. BERKLEY, Assistant Examiner. 

